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State lawmaker wants to get rid of blasphemy law

He's a Republican and he's an active member in his church, but a state lawmaker wants to repeal a century-old Oklahoma law that makes blasphemy a crime.

Edmond Republican Rep. Randy Grau says he was prompted in part by the violent protests that erupted after the release of an anti-Islamic film on the internet.

He also says he's motivated by free speech.

Grau says that while he doesn't support the disparagement of another's religious views, he believes it's necessary to stand up for free speech "even when it is unpopular to do so."

Grau says the Oklahoma law could just as easily be used against Christians who criticize Islam as it could be against those who blaspheme Christianity.

"What we see now is a law that may have been well-intentioned when it was passed, having unintentional consequences where it could be used to persecute Christians or any religious group that wants to speak out against another," Grau said.

The 1910 Oklahoma law makes it a misdemeanor to say or print words that case "profane ridicule upon God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, the Holy Scriptures or the Christian or any other religion."

Grau said there are too many antiquated laws on the books in general and says this is part of a larger effort to do some legislative housekeeping.

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